Shehnai

For the films, see Shehnai (1947 film) and Shehnai (1964 film).

The shehnai is a type of oboe from the Indian subcontinent.^[1] It is made of wood, with a double reed at one end and a metal or wooden flared bell at the other end.^[2][3][4] It was one of the nine instruments found in the royal court. The shehnai is similar to South India's nadaswaram.

Shehnai

Other names	Sharnai, Saanai, Sahnai, Sanai, Serunai, Shahnai, Shanai, Shenai, Shenoy,
Classification	Double reed Wind Aerophone
Related instruments
nadaswaram sundari/Mukhaveene suona Hne sopila zurna

Characteristics

This tubular instrument gradually broadens towards the lower end. It usually has between six and nine holes. It employs one set of quadruple reeds, making it a quadruple reed woodwind. To master the instrument, the musician must employ various and intricate embouchure and fingering techniques.^[2]

The shehnai has a range of two octaves, from the A below middle C to the A one line above the treble clef (A3 to A5 in scientific pitch notation). A shehnai is often but not always made with a body of wood or bamboo and a flared metal end.^[5]

Origin of the shehnai

The shehnai is thought to have been brought by the Mughal Empire as its use was most associated with the Mughal courts and it's sound closely resembles the trumpet known as "doira" in modern day Ferghana Valley in Uzbekistan which was the ancestral homeland of Mughals. The adaptation has been developed by improving upon the pungi^{[citation needed]} (a woodwind folk instrument used primarily for snake charming).

The counterparts to the shehnai played in Western India and Coastal Karnataka are indigenous to the territory. Shehnai players were/are an integral part of Goan/Konkani region and the temples along the western coast and the players are called Vajantri and were allotted lands for services rendered to the temples.^[6]

Music

It takes a lot of effort to play these instruments. The performance of the instrumentalist is essential, especially for a long and fast-paced song.^[7] In the Kannada film Sanaadi Appanna this instrument was used widely.

The shehnai is played during religious festivities and wedding celebrations.^[8]

Gallery

• 
  The Nepalese version, called the sahane, has a curve and is played in the panche baja.
• 
  A shehnai player.

Notable Indian shehnai players

• Bismillah Khan
• Anant Lal
• Ali Ahmed Hussain Khan
• S Ballesh Bhajantri
• Lokesh Anand
• Daya Shankar, son of Anant Lal

Other related wind instruments

• Mizmar, a shawm similar to the shehnai
• Nadaswaram, a similar South Indian instrument
• Reed instrument, a type of woodwind instrument
• Shawm, a type of reed instrument